As the birthplace of the Grand Ole Opry (the longest-running radio show in the world), Nashville is as renown for being the capital of country music as it is the capital of the state of Tennessee. But the truth is that Music City tips its cowboy hat to just about every musical genre. The toe-tappin' tunes you'll hear here are just as likely to be blues, jazz, gospel, pop, folk, or rock 'n roll as country. Roy Orbison, Joan Baez, Jimmy Buffett, Keith Urban and Taylor Swift are just a sample of the different artists who have recorded here over the years. Don't be surprised if you run into one or two famous faces around town!
Step into Nashville's musical past by touring Historic RCA Studio B (where Elvis recorded more than 250 hits), or tap into its future by listening to up-and-coming songwriters strummin' their stuff at the Bluebird Cafe. But don't forget that there's so much more to this southern city than music alone. In Nashville, you can explore the world's only exact replica of the Greek Parthenon, experience what it would be like to walk on the moon at an interactive science museum, ride a paddlewheel showboat on the Cumberland River, and walk behind an indoor waterfall at the largest non-gaming hotel in the U.S. And it's all-affordable. Nashville's cost of living is low, which keeps prices for hotels, food, and attractions fairly reasonable. Another bonus: Nashville is one of the friendliest cities you'll ever visit. You'll find southern hospitality alive and well here.
Major-league professional sports have also become part of the flavor of the city. Depending on the time of year you come, you can catch either the Tennessee Titans (NFL football) or the Nashville Predators (NHL ice hockey).
Your kids are likely to be particularly sweet on Nashville for one final reason: It's the home of the nation's oldest combination candy bar -- the Goo Goo Cluster (a confectionary concoction of peanuts, caramel, marshmallow, and milk chocolate). They're good, they're gooey, and like the city itself, they leave a sweet impression indeed.
Nashville Family Vacations
Nashville Family Vacations
Families will love:
- Southern hospitality and tons of affordable family fun
- Country music and the Historic RCA Studio B where Elvis recorded more than 250 hits
- Major-league professional sports teams including the Tennessee Titans and the Nashville Predators
Written by Katy Koontz
Read more about Nashville Attractions
Latest Nashville Trip Report
dschiller - 2011-11-29
We were invited to our cousin's wedding in Hendersonville, TN (10 miles outside Nashville) over Memorial Day weekend. We left from Lake City, PA ...
Read more Nashville Trip Reports
Best Nashville Family Hotels
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